TAMPA, Fla. -- Carlos Carrasco will be added to the Yankees' roster and begin the season in the rotation, general manager Brian Cashman said on Saturday.

Carrasco, 38, could have opted out of his Minor League contract on Saturday. The right-hander has enjoyed an excellent spring, posting a 1.69 ERA in five games (four starts), spanning 16 innings.

“He’s had a good camp, and obviously he has earned the right to come north with us,” Cashman said of Carrasco, who has scattered eight hits and seven walks with 15 strikeouts this spring.

A 15-year veteran, Carrasco has pitched to a 4.14 ERA across 324 Major League games (277 starts) with Cleveland (2009-2020, ‘24) and the Mets (2021-23).

Last season, Carrasco posted a 3-10 record and 5.64 ERA in 21 starts for the Guardians. He has been encouraged by his spring performance, saying he has “found everything that I need” in a camp that reunited him with pitching coach Matt Blake.

“It feels really good, getting those pitches back like I used to pitch four or five years ago,” Carrasco said earlier this week. “I know we had some rough years, and we learned from that.”

Carrasco is expected to follow left-hander Carlos Rodón, left-hander Max Fried and right-hander Marcus Stroman in the rotation, with right-hander Will Warren (4.19 ERA in 19 1/3 spring innings) also a strong candidate to break camp.

Cashman said right-hander Clarke Schmidt will begin the season on the injured list as he remains in Florida to continue building stamina, having been delayed this spring by back stiffness and a sore right shoulder.

“He just hasn’t had a Spring Training yet,” Cashman said. “He’s certainly going in the right direction.”

Right-hander Ian Hamilton will also begin the season on the injured list, having been limited to one Grapefruit League appearance after recovering from an infection.

“He’s going to need more time,” Cashman said.

With uncertain timelines for returns from Giancarlo Stanton (torn tendons in both elbows) and DJ LeMahieu (left calf strain), Cashman said he would be “happier” if the Yankees could add a right-handed bat before Opening Day. Their leading in-house options are Pablo Reyes and Oswald Peraza.

Cashman added the Yankees have until Tuesday to decide if they will carry infielder/outfielder Dom Smith, who opted out of his Minor League contract on Friday.

“We’re definitely keeping the phone lines open,” Cashman said.